OF WALTON. 4H 



to about thirty, exclusive of the neighbouring clergy, 

 who frequently resorted thither, and for a week to- 

 gether would join with, and assist, and ease them in 

 their watchings and devotions. And this was their 

 regimen : 



The season of Lent, the Ember weeks, Fridays, 

 and the Vigils of Saints, they observed strictly ; exer- 

 cising abstinence and prayer. 



Mr. Farrar himself, who had been admitted to dea- 

 con's orders, took upon him to be pastor of this little 

 flock : and accordingly, at ten and four every day, 

 read Common Prayer in the church, which for the pur- 

 pose he had both repaired and adorned ; besides which, 

 he, at the hour of six in the morning, constantly read 

 mattins, either in the church, or an oratory in their 

 common dwelling, the manor house. 



These were but the ordinary exercises of devotion, 

 TJie account of their severities in watching is to come; 

 for we are told, that, after these early prayers were 

 ended, many of the family were accustomed to spend 

 some hours in singing hymns or anthems, sometimes in 

 church, and often to an organ in the oratory. Farther, 

 those that slept were, oftentimes, by the ringing of a 

 watch-bell in the night, summoned to the church or 

 oratory ; or, in extreme cold nights, to a parlour in 

 the house that had a fire in it ; where they betook them- 

 selves to prayers and lauding God, and reading those 

 psalms that had not been reddin the day, for, it seems, 

 their rule required, that among them the whole Psalter 

 should be gone through once in every twenty-four 

 hours : and \vhen any grew faint, the bell was rung, 

 sometimes after midnight, and, at the call thereof, the 

 weary were relieved by others, who continued this ex- 

 ercise until morning. And this course of piety, ac- 

 companied with great liberality to the poor, was main- 

 tained till the death of Mr. Farrar, in 1639. 



The recreations of this society were suited .to the 

 different sexes ; for the males, running, vaulting, and 

 shooting at butts with the long bow : for the females,- 

 walking, gardening, embroidery, and other needle- 

 works ; and for both, musick, vocal and instrumental ; 



